Celiac Disease (Gluten Intolerance)

Overview

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder. It is caused by an immune reaction to gluten. Celiac disease is also known as:

sprue

nontropical sprue

gluten intolerance

gluten-sensitive enteropathy

Gluten is a protein found in foods made with wheat, barley, rye, and triticale. It is also found in oats that have been processed in plants that handle other grains. Gluten can be found in some medicines, vitamins, and lipsticks.

In celiac disease, the immune reaction to gluten creates toxins. These damage the villi, which are tiny finger-like protrusions inside the small intestines. Damage to them decreases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. This leads to malnutrition.

Treating celiac disease basically means eliminating all dietary gluten. This means avoiding most bread products, cakes and cookies, beer, and even products like ice cream where gluten is sometimes used as a stabilizing ingredient.

Risk Factors for Celiac Disease

Celiac disease runs in families. Family members of a person with celiac have a one in 22 risk of the disease. In the United States, the general population risk is one in 133.

People suffering from other immune diseases and certain genetic disorders are more likely to have celiac disease. Some disorders associated with celiac include:

rheumatoid arthritis

type 1 diabetes

thyroid disease

autoimmune liver disease

Addison’s disease

Sjogren’s disease

lupus

Down syndrome

Turner syndrome

lactose intolerance

intestinal cancer

intestinal lymphoma

Recognizing Celiac Disease

Symptoms of celiac disease can involve the intestines and digestive system, but can also affect other parts of the body. Children and adults tend to have a different set of symptoms.

Symptoms in Children

Children with celiac disease can be emotionally irritable. They tend to be smaller than normal and have delayed puberty. They may have enamel defects in their permanent teeth. Other symptoms include:

weight loss

vomiting

abdominal bloating

abdominal pain

persistent diarrhea

pale, fatty, foul-smelling stools

Symptoms in Adults

Adults with celiac disease have fewer abdominal symptoms. Symptoms are more related to other organs. They include:

iron deficiency anemia

arthritis

bone and joint pain

osteoporosis and bone fractures

fatigue

numbness and tingling in the hands and feet

seizures

canker sores in the mouth

irregular menstrual periods

infertility and miscarriage

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) is another symptom of celiac disease. DH is an intensely itchy, blistering skin rash. It occurs on the elbows, buttocks, and knees. Up to one quarter of people with celiac disease have DH. Those who do usually don’t have digestive symptoms.

Whether or not a person was breast-fed can affect the onset of symptoms—longer breastfeeding, for example, can delay onset of symptoms.

Other factors that play a role in symptoms are duration of illness and the amount of gluten in the diet. When diagnosis is delayed, complications are more likely to occur.

Some people with celiac disease have no symptoms. However, they may still have long-term complications.

How Is Celiac Disease Diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a physical examination and a medical history.

People with celiac disease often have high levels of anti-endomysium (EMA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) antibodies. These can be detected with blood tests. Tests are most reliable if performed while gluten is still in the diet.

Other blood tests include:

complete blood count (CBC)

liver enzymes (transaminases)

cholesterol, may be lower than normal

clotting factors

alkaline phosphatase, which can signal blood loss

albumin

An upper endoscopy can also be used to test for celiac. A small tube called an endoscope is threaded through the mouth to the small intestines. It allows the doctor to examine the intestines and perform a biopsy. Then the doctor can look for damage to the villi.

In people with DH, a skin biopsy can also help doctors diagnose celiac. With a positive skin biopsy and blood tests, internal biopsy may not be necessary.

Treating Celiac Disease

Permanently removing gluten from the diet is the only treatment for celiac disease. This allows the intestinal villi to heal and improves absorption of nutrients.

Your doctor may recommend vitamins and mineral nutrients as supplements if you can’t get adequate nutrition from a gluten-free diet. For some people, a short course of steroids is needed.

Symptoms can improve within days of removing gluten from the diet. However, you should not stop eating gluten until your diagnosis is made. Removing gluten prematurely may cause test results to be incorrect.

Food Precautions for People With Celiac

Maintaining a gluten-free diet is not easy. Fortunately, more and more companies are making gluten free products. There are even gluten free breads and pastas available!

If you have celiac, it is important to know what food is safe to eat. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic have created a series of food guidelines for people with celiac.

Absolutely avoid food and drinks that contain these ingredients:

wheat

spelt (a kind of wheat)

rye

barley

triticale

bulgur

durum

farina

graham flour

semolina

The following grains and starches are gluten free:

buckwheat

corn

amaranth

arrowroot

cornmeal

flour made from rice, soy, corn, potatoes, and beans

pure corn tortillas

quinoa

rice

tapioca

These foods are gluten free and help to make a balanced diet:

fresh meats, fish, and poultry that haven’t been breaded, coated, or marinated

fruits

most dairy products

potatoes, including sweet potatoes

rice

vegetables

wine, distilled liquors, ciders and spirits

The following foods should be avoided unless the label says they are gluten-free:

This feature is for informational purposes only and should not be used to replace the care and information received from your health care provider. Please consult a health care professional with any health concerns you may have.